Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-05-11

"Show her into the dining-room
James," L said. 'iand say III be witt
her in few minutes. -
Don't mind me-" said Miss White
humbly. ''Since the death of my dea
parents / am used to being set aside fol
others;
'But, Miss White L protested
''No, please don't apologize; l am moi
used to that. All my life long | hav,
been trampled upon. 1 don't complain
no, don't complain. l merely stat,
the fact, as / think it only right yor
should know everything if | am L
become an inmate of your house,
Another lady to see you, SIR" an
nounced James "a Miss Mildew."
"Show her into the library, James, ,
L stammered.
"Your parents" said I, making 9
frantic effort to get to business, ''were-'
"Most respectable people, but unfor.
tunate. Yes; its only right you should
know that"
"Another lady to see you, SIR" an
nounced James.
"What room is vacant, James?''
asked hurriedly. us any room yacant?'
''Only the boudoir, sir.''
'Then show-who did YOU say il
was?D
'Mrs. Dark, SIR"
"Show her in there
BY the time that my fifth visitor
arrived, an event which happened very
shortly after the arrival of Mrs. Dark,
l was well nigh distracted. There really
was no room for this last woman. i
could not have two of them gossiping
together and perhaps quarreling, SO !
was compelled TO ask Mrs. HeSlop to
wait in the hall. 1t was very rude, but
what else could do? Besides, such in
convenience as she suffered was entirely
her own fault-her eagerneSs to secure
the post having brought her two hours
before her proper time.
Miss White" 1 said, feeling at last
secure \rom further interruption, "are
you-pray excuse a necessary question
are you really kleptOmaniac:"
Instead of replying she burst into
tears. 1t was distressing to watch and
listen to her. Looking around deSper-
ately for some handle to use against
her, experienced a rude shock. My
gold vase had disappeared.
From that moment my opinion of
Miss White underwent a profound
change. L rushed, perhaps wrongly to
the other extreme, and set her down as
a most artful woman, whose weakness
was assumed TO cover her nefariouS
designs. Naturally enough, felt rather
sore on this point, for L placed a high
value upon the vase. There could be
no doubt as to what become of it. For
what other purpose could she have
brought that suspicious-looking black
bag?
"You have answered my question,
admit" said /, with feeble attempt
at jocularity, ''in very practical man
ner. l never saw you take that vase,
Miss White it was cleverly done, with
out doubt"
She tried her tears and looked at Inc
with mournful surprise.
'sI'm not used to being told that do
things cleverly,- she said. lyon are
the first who has told me that since my
poor mother died. But what thing do
you mean?"
"Why," l replied, trying to smile,
';my gold vase, which you have pat in
your bag"
'Do you accuse me of stealing?" she
asked.
Notwithstanding the flood of tears
which she held in reserve somewhere |
saw then that there was fire in the
woman. The doleful features hardened;
the eyes glittered dangerously. She sat
erect, but still with folded hands.
Dreading a scene, l answered some
what hastily:
'sNo, no, by no means. 1t is an eX-
cellent conjuring trick, but nothing
more.n
Because she said severely. Il am
used to being insulted; am used to be-
ing trodden upon, but have never been
so insulted or so trodden upon as that
at least by a gentleman.
Then | said. when l could in some
collect my thoughts, ''you
don't know what has become of the
vase?"
''Sir, L have never seen 1t.
"But-but-pray excuse my pertina-
city; you came here as kleptomaniac.
Now, didn't you Miss White?"
''It's very hard" she replied, weep
ing again, ''for a poor defenceleSs
woman to be attacked IN this way. But
| don't complain, for I'm used to it. i
came here in answer to an advertise
ment said to proceed from gentleman,
and | only wish hadn't"
"And that advertisement was for a
Really, Miss White, |
must ask you to let Inc see your bag
Crying bitterly all the time, but with
put a word she handed it to :me. l
opened it and found it empty! l don't
think that, either before or since, have
felt So crushed as L did at that moment,
though my conviction that this shame |
less woman had got the vase was un- |
shaken by my failure to find it.
And now there burst upon me a
thought that brought the perspiratlon
out in great drops upon my forehead.
In every available room in the house !
there was one of these desperate klepto- |
naniacs, who was doubtless thieving |
right and left.
Excuse me one moment-only one |
(" 1 said, and literally ran from
he room, my intention being TO create
scare and thus prevent any further |
$50 to the hall door at |
1nce,'' said to James, who happened |
10 be passing, "and no account let any |
,ne of the FIVE ladies out of the house
until l tell you"
1t really was frightful scene that |
net my gaze in the bOudOir. Mrs. Dark |
lad discovered in an Indian cabinet a |
secret drawer of which had no knowl-
,dge, and this drawer had apparently
contained a large quantity of jewelry,
all of which felt sure had been appro-
Driated by poor Maria. In order to fill |
ler pocket more easily, Mrs. Dark was
seated upon the floor, with the whole
collection of rings, bracelets and |
brooches in her lap and paper in her
land.
She was a bushy-browed, keen-eyed |
,lderly woman, with very square shoul-
iers and a slight stOop. A glance at her
lard featured face and coarse hands |